The NPA has denied claims that arrest warrants were issued for March and March leaders Jacinta MaNgobese-Zuma and Xolani Zuma.

Ismail Cassimjee and Thamothran Junior Raman are facing charges relating to an alleged property sale scam. They are on trail for fraud amounting to R1.5 million.

Parliament has sounded the alarm over a major failure to meet South Africa’s digital connectivity targets, revealing that mobile network operators have connected less than half of the schools, clinics, libraries, and other public institutions they were required to bring online under spectrum licence obligations awarded in 2022. Lawmakers on Wednesday warned that operators failing to meet their commitments must face consequences, as thousands of public facilities remain cut off from internet access despite promises made when valuable spectrum licences were issued. Concerns The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies raised serious concerns over the sluggish pace of internet connectivity at public service institutions (PSIs), with only 10 851 of the 21 878 targeted facilities connected as of March 2026. The concern emerged during a briefing by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on the implementation of Universal Access and Service Obligations (UASOs) attached to high-demand spectrum licences awarded in 2022. Auction The spectrum auction saw five successful bidders: Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Liquid, and Rain. As part of their licence conditions, the operators were required to connect public service institutions, including schools, healthcare facilities, libraries, and traditional authorities, to internet services. Icasa’s presentation revealed that overall compliance stands at just 49.1%, meaning more than half of the institutions earmarked for connectivity remain offline. Of the five operators, only Vodacom, Telkom and Liquid achieved the minimum connectivity threshold of 65% of their individual targets by March 2026. MTN and Rain failed to meet the benchmark. Obligations The operators were assigned the following connectivity obligations: Vodacom: 8,131 institutions MTN: 7,390 institutions Telkom: 3,103 institutions Rain: 2,956 institutions Liquid: 298 institutions Slow rollout Committee members warned that the slow rollout threatens efforts to improve access to education, healthcare, and government services, particularly in underserved communities where internet connectivity has become essential for development and economic participation. Committee chairperson Khusela Sangoni-Diko said operators that fail to honour their licence commitments should face regulatory action. “Companies that renege on their licence compliance obligations should be referred to the Complaints and Compliance Committee (CCC) for consequence management,” Sangoni-Diko said. Monitor She added that Icasa should closely monitor implementation milestones instead of waiting years before taking action. “Icasa should track implementation milestones and not wait five years before seeking intervention from the CCC to investigate what may amount to malicious compliance,” she said. The committee stressed that reliable internet access at schools, clinics, libraries and other public institutions is no longer a luxury but a critical component of modern service delivery, education and access to information. Online content Lawmakers also received an update on operators’ obligations to zero-rate online content for approved Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) and websites using the .gov.za domain. Zero-rating allows users to access approved websites and services without incurring mobile data charges, helping to remove affordability barriers that prevent many South Africans from accessing essential information and services. Icasa said the zero-rating requirement is scheduled to take effect in January 2027. To date, the regulator has received 69 applications for zero-rated status and approved 51. The committee said it would continue monitoring compliance to ensure operators meet their obligations and deliver on the connectivity commitments made when the spectrum licences were awarded.

A woman was rescued from a burning church in Durban after a fire engulfed a double-storey building housing a tyre fitment centre and the church on Wednesday evening. eThekwini Fire and Emergency Services firefighters rescued the woman from the building on the corner of Umbilo Road and Che Guevara Road on 14 October. The municipality’s Emergency Call Centre received reports of the fire at about 8.20pm and immediately dispatched firefighters to the scene. “On arrival, they found both floors of the building alight,” the eThekwini Municipality said. Woman treated for smoke inhalation The ground floor of the building houses a tyre fitment centre where tyres are stored, while a church occupies the upper floor. Firefighters entered the burning building despite intense heat, thick smoke and highly combustible materials to reach and rescue the trapped woman. Emergency personnel treated her for smoke inhalation at the scene before taking her to hospital for further care. Fire crews brought the blaze under control within 10 minutes of arriving and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring properties. No fatalities or further injuries were reported. Incendiary device suspected The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with preliminary information suggesting that an incendiary device may have been thrown at the building. Fire investigators remained at the scene on Thursday to establish the cause and origin of the blaze. The municipality urged residents and business owners, particularly those storing flammable materials, to ensure that appropriate fire safety measures are in place to protect lives and property. Residents can report fires and other emergencies to the City’s Emergency Call Centre on 031 361 0000. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the South African Police Service (Saps).

Bafana Bafana fans enjoyed unexpected nostalgia during Real Betis’ 3-2 win over FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League in Seville on Wednesday night. The moment allowed South Africans to relive one of the most iconic moments in South African sporting history. REAL BETIS BEAT PORTO 3-2 IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE The Spanish La Liga side came from behind to stun the Portuguese giants at a packed Estadio de La Cartuja arena. Following the final whistle, Betis’ players performed the ‘Bafana Bafana 2010 goal celebration’. It came during South Africa’s opener against Mexico on 11 June 2010 at Soccer City, thanks to a worldie strike from left winger Tshabalala. The match ended 1-1 following a late Mexican equaliser. South Africa hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first African nation to stage the tournament. BAFANA BAFANA BACK ON THE WORLD STAGE Following the tournament, South Africa would miss three consecutive FIFA World Cups: 2014 in Brazil, 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar, before returning to the USA, Mexico and Canada in June this year. Bafana Bafana went on to make history by qualifying for the second round. They had lost 2-0 to Mexico in the opener, drawn 1-1 with the Czech Republic before beating South Korea 1-0 to set up a meeting with Canada in the last 32. The dream ended with a 1-0 defeat. Meanwhile, South Africa are involved in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. After beating Guinea 2-1 and Eritrea 5-0 in the opening rounds, Pitso Mosimane’s side face Kenya next month. Success will book a place at the finals, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in June 2027. FULL FIXTURES South Africa vs Kenya: 11 November 2026 (Home) Kenya vs South Africa: 15 November 2026 (Away) Guinea vs South Africa (Away): 24 March 2027 (Away) South Africa vs Eritrea (Home): 28 March 2027 (Home). DO YOU EXPECT BAFANA BAFANA TO QUALIFY COMFORTABLY? Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.

Orlando Pirates have received a timely injury boost with the return of Thalente Mbatha and Evidence Makgopa, although Abdeslam Ouaddou still has several players on the sidelines. The duo returned to action during the Buccaneers‘ MTN8 final defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns this past weekend, providing the Soweto giants with additional options as they prepare for their CAF Champions League campaign. Although Mbatha and Makgopa are still working towards regaining their best form and match rhythm, their availability comes at an important stage of the season, with Pirates competing on multiple fronts. The Buccaneers continue to monitor the fitness of several other players, including midfielder Sihle Ndluli, who remains sidelined after suffering an injury in August. The 31-year-old sustained the injury during his first match back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He is expected to remain out of action until at least January. Orlando Pirates have De Jong on the sidelines Forward Andre de Jong is also working his way back to full fitness. The midfielder has been training with the squad and is expected to return to action soon, although his exact comeback date remains unclear. Pirates have also been boosted by the sight of experienced midfielders Kabelo Dlamini and Makhehlene Makhaula training with the team. Their current fitness levels and potential return dates have yet to be confirmed, leaving Ouaddou waiting for further clarity on their availability. With the CAF Champions League campaign adding to an already demanding schedule, the return of injured players could prove important for OrlandoPirates as they look to maintain their competitiveness across domestic and continental competitions. Which player do you wanna see return?

OpenAI alleges an employee who left for Apple took over 100 files on an unreleased device.

Private wheeling projects have no regulated compensation if the grid operator curtails them because of oversupply.